Registered Nurses in Missouri. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
Missouri's median Registered Nurse earned $79,770 in 2024, about 16% below the US median of $94,511. That gap is real, but it does not tell the whole story.
Missouri's cost of living runs roughly 9% below the national average. After adjusting for what the money actually buys, the effective gap narrows to around 8%. A nurse moving from a higher-cost state might find the nominal pay cut smaller than the headline numbers suggest.
The spread across earners is worth noting. The bottom 10% of Registered Nurses in Missouri earned $58,510 in 2024. The top 10% earned $103,140, about 76% more. That gap typically reflects differences in specialty, setting, and years of experience. An ICU nurse at a large hospital system in St. Louis or Kansas City will sit at a different point in that range than a staff nurse at a rural critical-access facility.
The mean wage of $81,950 sits just above the median. That is a modest difference, which tells us the top earners here do not pull the average up as sharply as they do in some occupations with steeper compensation curves.
BLS projects the Registered Nurse occupation will grow 4.9% nationally between 2024 and 2034, an average rate. Missouri's 74,270 employed nurses make it one of the larger state workforces in this occupation, so even average-pace growth translates to a steady volume of openings over the decade.
Salary distribution
Where Missouri registered nurses fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $76,050 and $98,560, with a median of $81,780.
Registered Nurses in Missouri: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 22 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $67,600. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 14 | $63,835 |
| Level II — qualified | 7 | $72,155 |
| Level III — experienced | 1 | $95,680 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Registered Nurses in Missouri. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Curators of the University of Missouri | Staff Nurse, Neuroscience ICU | 4 | $60,934 |
| Truman Medical Centers, Inc. | Clinical Nurse RN, Critical Care/Surgical ICU | 3 | $68,216 |
| Adex Medical Staffing LLC | Professional Registered Nurse | 2 | $65,978 |
| Lifeline Nursing Solutions, LLC | Registered Nurse (Medical Surgical Unit) | 2 | $72,155 |
| Scotland County Memorial Hospital | Registered Nurse Operating Room | 2 | $83,720 |
| SULLIVAN COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL | Nursing Quality,Safety & Nurse Assistant Manager | 2 | $57,990 |
| Truman Medical Center, Inc. | Clinical Nurse RN, Critical Care/Surgical ICU | 2 | $65,766 |
| ADEX Medical Staffing, LLC. | Registered Nurse | 1 | $67,600 |
| Community Health Association | RN, BSN, Operating Room | 1 | $80,517 |
| Management Health Systems, LLC | Registered Nurse | 1 | $62,254 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Registered Nurse Operating Room at Scotland County Memorial Hospital$83,720MemphisWage Level IIDecided Mar 5, 2026I-200-26057-666733
- Nursing Quality,Safety & Nurse Assistant Manager at SULLIVAN COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL$59,030MilanWage Level IDecided Feb 25, 2026I-200-26049-649000
- Staff Nurse, Medical ICU at The Curators of the University of Missouri$73,362ColumbiaWage Level IDecided Feb 25, 2026I-200-26049-648492
- RN CASE MANAGER at ULTIMATE CARE INC.$66,165JOPLINWage Level IIDecided Dec 9, 2025I-200-25336-451681
- Registered Nurse at ADEX Medical Staffing, LLC.$67,600BLUE SPRINGSWage Level IDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25307-363597
- RN, BSN, Operating Room at Community Health Association$80,517FairfaxWage Level IIDecided Sep 8, 2025I-200-25241-275734
- Professional Registered Nurse at Adex Medical Staffing LLC$67,600Kansas CityWage Level IDecided Aug 20, 2025I-200-25225-238810
- Float Pool RN - Med/Surg at Saint Francis Healthcare System$95,680Cape GirardeauWage Level IIIDecided Aug 12, 2025I-200-25217-223120
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
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Registered Nurses pay by experience level in Missouri
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Registered Nurses specialties in Missouri
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 12 certified offers. The most common variant is Clinical Nurse RN, Critical Care/Surgical ICU at a median of $68,216.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical Nurse RN, Critical Care/Surgical ICU | Truman Medical Centers, Inc. | 4 | $68,216 |
| Staff Nurse, Neuroscience ICU | The Curators of the University of Missouri | 4 | $60,934 |
| Registered Nurse | Lifeline Nursing Solutions, LLC | 4 | $69,878 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Registered Nurses in Missouri, by industry
Median offered wage across 22 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Healthcare leads with a median of $68,216.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | Truman Medical Centers, Inc. | 11 | $68,216 |
| Professional services | Adex Medical Staffing LLC | 7 | $67,600 |
| Education | The Curators of the University of Missouri | 4 | $60,934 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Missouri over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.6 / 5
Psychology
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
Medicine and Dentistry
Knowledge
- 4.2 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Deductive Reasoning
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Social Perceptiveness
Technical
- 4.1 / 5
Problem Sensitivity
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Speaking
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Record patients' medical information and vital signs.
- 02
Administer medications to patients and monitor patients for reactions or side effects.
- 03
Maintain accurate, detailed reports and records.
- 04
Monitor, record, and report symptoms or changes in patients' conditions.
- 05
Provide health care, first aid, immunizations, or assistance in convalescence or rehabilitation in locations such as schools, hospitals, or industry.
- 06
Consult and coordinate with healthcare team members to assess, plan, implement, or evaluate patient care plans.
- 07
Direct or supervise less-skilled nursing or healthcare personnel or supervise a particular unit.
- 08
Monitor all aspects of patient care, including diet and physical activity.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+4.9%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Average growth
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in Missouri
Metro-level salary data for registered nurses in major Missouri metropolitan areas.
- St. Louis$83,180
- Kansas City$83,040
Compare Registered Nurses pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare Missouri with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Registered Nurses in Missouri?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Registered Nurses in Missouri is $81,780.
- How does Missouri compare to the national median for Registered Nurses?
- The Missouri median is -16.8% versus the BLS national figure of $98,331.
- What is the salary range for Registered Nurses in Missouri?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $63,230 and the 90th-percentile at $104,390, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Registered Nurses a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 4.9% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Registered Nurses?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.